Why
is it that sometimes my bottle says “Take tablet whole/do not crush or
chew”?

Some medications have a coating that, if
broken, could irritate your stomach or esophagus or possibly cause ulcers.
Others simply will not work if they are broken and chewed because the
stomach acid would destroy the medicine. Another reason is because many
medicines are time-released. The time-release capsules (or tablets)
gradually give out medicine over a twelve or twenty-four hour time frame.
If you were to crush the specially designed capsule, it would not work as
a time release pill. In addition, it could be dangerous if the medicine
that was supposed to be gradually released over twenty-four hours, was
released all at one time into your stomach.

Do
I really need to take my medicine with food?

Most commonly, the “take with food” label
is on the prescription bottle to prevent an upset stomach if the
medication is known to irritate the stomach lining. However, some
medications can actually cause an ulcer in your stomach (or esophagus)
very quickly. If you take it without food, the medicine may physically
stick to your esophagus or stomach and burn a hole in the lining. Also,
some medications have been shown to be more effective if taken with food.

My
bottle always has a “take on an empty stomach” sticker on it. Is
fifteen minutes before a meal OK?

Generally, when you are told to take medicine
on an empty stomach it means one hour before the meal or two hours after
the meal. These are the minimum times that should be used. If you can take
it even sooner before the meal or longer after the meal, that is even
better. Some medications will not work at all unless they are on an empty
stomach while otherswill not
work as well.

Should
I put the cotton plug back in my bottle to prevent the tablets from
breaking?

No. Once the cotton is taken out of the
bottle, throw it away. The cotton will actually pull moisture into the
bottle from the air. Medications remain most effective when they are kept
moisture-free.

Should
I store my medications in the refrigerator to keep them cool?

There are certain medications that must be
stored in the refrigerator such as insulin, some AIDS and cancer drugs
etc. However, for the vast majority of medications, you need to store them
in a cool (or room temperature), DRY place such as a bedroom.
Refrigerators hold a lot of moisture which is not good for the medication.

How
soon after I start taking my medication should I expect to encounter a
side effect?

The more common side effects such as
drowsiness or lightheadedness usually occur very soon, within minutes to
hours, after the first dose of medication is taken. The majority of all
side effects to medications occur within the first forty-eight hours of
starting the medication. However, sometimes a medication can be taken for
months or years with no problem and then suddenly a problem may develop,
such as a rash or joint pain or muscle soreness. If you develop some
problem out of the ordinary, keep in mind the possibility it could be one
of your medications.

Why
should I drink water with my cough syrup?

It has been found that if you drink lots of
fluids such as water, juice, or non-caffeinated and non-alcoholic
beverages, it helps the cough medicine work better. It is thought that by
drinking lots of water you “hydrate” yourself and this helps clear the
mucous out of the lungs internally by using the lungs natural abilities.
If you are not well hydrated, the mucous tends to be thicker and stickier
making it harder to cough up.

What
is the difference between an elixir, suspension and solution?

All three of the above have a couple things
in common, they are liquids and they have medicine in them. The solution
has the medicine dissolved in it so there is no need to shake the bottle
before giving or taking the medicine because the medicine is always
equally dispersed throughout all of the liquid. Think of an elixir as a
solution with alcohol.The
amount of alcohol in the elixir varies. A suspension has the medicine
“suspended” in the liquid and therefore settling of the medicine may
occur. Because of this settling, shaking of a suspension is necessary to
be certain you are getting the proper amount of medication.

How
do you know which is best, the elixir, suspension or solution?

There is not one that is considered to be
superior to the others. Since the elixir has alcohol, many persons stay
away from this form. The suspension often times taste better than a
solution, if a particularly bad tasting medicine is involved. The solution
has the convenience of no alcohol and no shaking required. It is a matter
of personal choice that ultimately decides what you should use.